The 2025 season had been a hit for Seattle Storm players individually. But as a team, Storm was disrupted by midseason roster shakeups and stretches of frustrating inconsistency. Not just that, the team even fell backwards into the postseason with a 23–21 record. And that’s why they took a major step by firing Noelle Quinn in late September. Yet, even with a new coach now in place to guide the team, the challenges haven’t faded just yet.

After an extensive month-long search, Seattle announced New York Liberty assistant coach Sonia Raman as their new head coach. “Sonia is a trailblazer, an innovator, and a leader in basketball analytics and strategy. Her diverse coaching experiences and deep focus on player development and connection make her an exceptional coach to lead our team into the next era,” said Storm General Manager Talisa Rhea on Wednesday. A new era indeed – but one that comes with its own set of challenges, as basketball analyst Sophia Jones pointed out. 

Speaking on a recent episode of Locked On Women’s Basketball, she said, “I think in comparison to the other teams that we’ve covered so far, Seattle definitely does have the most unrestricted free agents. And I mean, one through six – six being the sixth woman who comes off the bench, Erica Wheeler – all unrestricted free agents. For Seattle, one thing that was very apparent to me last season was they didn’t have a ton of depth.”

She continued, “And so that’s where I think either you’re going to bank on keeping these players and maybe add more pieces, or are you going to scrap the entire thing? … This Seattle Storm team, you can definitely say that they underachieved this past season.” And yes, the analyst has a fair point behind her take.

When the Storm opened their 2025 season, they made a high-stakes trade involving a star player. They traded longtime leader Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces in a blockbuster three-team deal. In return, they received the No. 2 overall pick (Dominique Malonga), the rights to Li Yueru, and a 2026 first-round pick. They also added Lexie Brown from the Los Angeles Sparks as part of the same trade. And that’s how the team came together.

Ever since, Storm has been on a dominant run led by its veteran stars. While Ogwumike posted multiple 20+ point, double-digit rebound performances, Diggins-Smith elevated the locker room with her steady offensive presence. Not just that, supporting them was Gabby Williams, a standout player known for her critical defensive coverage and playmaking skill. 

Then, the team welcomed Brittney Sykes, later adding to the guard rotation. Together, they pushed the Storm to a 23–21 record and a fourth-place finish in the Western Conference Division. So, while the team’s overall run wasn’t quite up to expectations, with a few tweaks, the group could still return stronger for a dominant comeback. But that won’t be easy for Raman. 

As Sophia mentioned, only four players from the Storm’s talented roster are currently under contract for next season. The rest of their All-Stars are set to become unrestricted free agents this winter.  To make matters worse, Dominique Malonga is currently under FIBA’s microscope for allegedly leaving her Turkish club “without any just cause.” Playing without her would be far from ideal for Seattle, as the team wants every chance possible to develop her within their system. If free agency doesn’t go their way, Malonga could become the ultimate bright spot for the franchise.

As Sabreena Merchant shared on a recent episode of No Offseason, “I think it’s getting a little overblown. I would be incredibly surprised if Dominique Malonga were ineligible to suit up for the 2026 WNBA season.” Now, with a first-time WNBA head coach like Sonia Raman stepping in, the Storm are staring at a wave of uncertainty. So yes, the challenges are already set for Raman!

Can she overcome them?

Well, the challenge is extremely clear for Sonia Raman, the first person of Indian descent to serve as a head coach across both the WNBA and NBA. But supporting her is an extensive amount of experience. Well, that’s because she’s spent the 2020–2024 seasons as an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies, focusing on player development and analytics.

After that, she took up the post of assistant coach with the New York Liberty. While her tenure there lasted only a year, witnessing Sandy Brondello guide a roster full of veteran stars added immense value to her résumé. So yes, Sonia’s got a real chance to make a strong comeback with the Seattle Storm.

As she shared during her introductory speech, “I’m deeply grateful to Storm ownership, Alisha Valavanis, Talisa Rhea, and the entire organization for their trust and belief in me. I look forward to building on the proud legacy of this franchise and competing at the highest level for our fans.”

Still, the road ahead comes with its share of bumps, as the W’s nearly heading into a lockout. That means unrestricted free agency and teams extending qualifying offers could be delayed, too. So, amid this tense situation, what do you think – will the Storm be able to either pick up or retain a solid core to strengthen its 2026 season?